Orbcomm Global, L.P. (Orbcomm), a pioneering provider of global low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite data and messaging communications services, this week announced that its affiliate, Orbital Communications Corporation (OCC), has been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch and operate 12 additional satellites, increasing the total constellation authorized by the FCC from 36 to 48 satellites. The FCC license, released March 31, was announced the next day at Orbcomm's 1998 Global Solutions Conference.
"The FCC license allows Orbcomm to enhance both the quality of
our service and the capacity of our system to deliver data and
messaging services to our customers around the world," said Alan L.
Parker, President of Orbcomm Global Development. "Following an
extensive review of our application, the FCC determined that it would
serve the public interest to allow Orbcomm to expand its system."
The FCC also granted OCC's request to modify its license to allow
for more efficient, higher data rate subscriber downlinks. In
addition, the FCC has authorized an increase in the orbital altitude
of the non-high inclination satellites in the Orbcomm constellation
from 775 km to 825 km. These modifications will allow Orbcomm to
improve availability in the higher latitudes, including Alaska,
Northern Canada, Northern Europe and Russia, while increasing capacity
in the temperate zones.
The announcement of FCC approval marked the climax of Orbcomm's
1998 Global Solutions Conference, which gathered hundreds of service
resellers, equipment manufacturers, new applications developers and
international licensees in preparation for the introduction of global
two-way data and messaging services.
"This FCC announcement at our Global Solutions Conference, which
was attended by Orbcomm partners representing over 90 countries, was
met with great enthusiasm," said Scott L. Webster, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Orbcomm. "We are at the threshold of a new era in
satellite communications, and Orbcomm is leading the way."
Orbcomm is a partnership owned by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Teleglobe Inc. of Canada and Technology Resources Industries Bhd. of Malaysia. Technology Resources Industries Bhd., a publicly traded holding company, controls the largest cellular operator in Malaysia.
